This paper puts forward some suggestions based on personal experience. Its purpose is to make you win that precious reply with as little energy and expense as possible.
1. Why should I send a letter to Baker Street?
I suggest that every friend who wants to write to this gentleman at 22 1 B, Baker Street, London, carefully consider a question: Why did you write to him? Because we know that many people have begun to prepare to write letters with the following ideas:
(1) I wonder if this address really exists?
(2) it sounds interesting;
(3) It seems to make me feel good;
(4) Thousands of people in the world have done it, and it must be a popular symbol;
(5) My textbooks and teachers advised me to do so;
I think it is inappropriate for people with the above purposes to spend so much time and energy torturing people to do something that is likely to be stupid in the eyes of a non-Holmes believer (of course, I am not trying to stop them from doing so).
I suggest readers of this article think about why you did it before writing. It won't take you too long, but your answer determines whether you need to spend at least two months waiting near 20 yuan.
2. What should I send?
Many people all over the world will send all kinds of inexplicable things to dear Mr. Holmes, even the socks worn by someone. But I suggest that the best gift is a warm card with strong Chinese flavor (the latter is to attract attention). Let me explain a little. If you send a package wrapped in strange things, you may have to spend a huge postage. Of course, you can also write a 20-page love letter with crazy love-but the problem is: friends who are familiar with him will know that today's London Baker Street 22 1 B is actually the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Every day, staff help detectives handle thousands of letters, so we should be sober. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm. If you think he is willing to do so even if he is not really there to see your things, then I will pay the highest respect to your enthusiasm. But as the author of this small post, I hope I can let you know how to get the expected return with the least effort and money.
3. What should I write?
The content of the letter is one of the most important issues. The detective's secretary (no longer Watson) may decide whether to reply to your letter according to the content of your letter. Some people may think, "Where are you from?" Are you a boy? "Does this address really exist?" Such questions are irrelevant, but I believe that no one will believe that you have enough understanding and love for him when they see the above questions. You're the one who wants a reply! So be kind to the content of your letter.
First of all, your letter must be in English! Don't think that Mr. Holmes and his secretary are proficient in all the languages of the world. Even if they can understand it, they may not be able to understand profound Chinese. Then, you can confide in him, or you can report to him that you found the trace of Professor moriarty in your hometown, or even give him some puzzles to do, or invite him to your house for kung pao chicken tomorrow night ... The content is never limited, but I suggest you show that you know him well enough. If you can write "Hey, is your cigarette still in the Persian slippers?" Take it out, it's unsanitary "or" Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson can't stand your bad habit of shooting at the wall ",and his secretary may pay enough attention to your letter. I suggest you be concise, which is also the consistent style of biographer Dr. Watson. Believe me, the English are a little lazy. They will go crazy when they see the dense words.
4. When will this letter be sent?
Pick an off-season when sending letters, such as Christmas, New Year's Day and Detective's birthday (65438+10.6). Don't join in the fun, otherwise the chances of receiving a reply may be very small. For China fans, the Spring Festival will be a good choice to express their feelings.
5. How should I send it?
Go to the post office and say to the staff, "I want to send an ordinary letter to London, England." Of course, you can also say, "I want to send a letter to Holmes!" " "But don't forget to tell them afterwards that it was sent to London, England), and they will help you with everything. Although it will take a long time to send an ordinary letter and there is a risk of losing it, I suggest you experience the fun of waiting (and save money).
Buy a special envelope (different requirements in different places), weigh the letter and pay the postage. If you are not overweight, the postage for each letter is about ten yuan. Don't worry about the money you have to pay. Below is a mock envelope I made. Copy it on your envelope in this format: remember that the envelope must be written in English or pinyin! Otherwise, the detective's secretary can't answer your letter, because they can't write Chinese!
Write your address in the upper left corner. Write the pinyin of your name on the first line! According to the custom of China people, the address is changed from big to small, so that when the reply comes, the postman will be more awake. Write your street name in Chinese Pinyin, and all provinces and cities write it according to the general translation (generally in Chinese Pinyin, except Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan). The country name is People's Republic of China (PRC), which means the people of China and China. If you forget to write any of them clearly, you won't get a reply, for example, 6 10000 (zip code).
Zhang San
Page (abbreviation of page) China
Chengdu, Sichuan province
XX road
Then write down his name and address in the lower right corner excitedly!
Mr Sherlock Holmes
22 Baker Street1B
London, NW 1 6XE
the United Kingdom
Write an envelope, affix a stamp, take a photo of your "work" as a souvenir, and then give it to the staff.
6. What should I do after posting the letter?
Do what you have to do and wait. When you forget, there may be a reply.
7. Mr. Holmes wrote back!
The reply was sent by ordinary mail. This means that it takes about two months from sending a letter to receiving it.
For example, in my reply, the envelope is handwritten without signature, and the familiar Queen's stamp is in the upper right corner.
The reply was typed on lovely ginger paper, and the font was like an ancient typewriter, which seemed to create a Victorian atmosphere. The letter I received contains two paragraphs. I have discussed your letter with Dr. Watson for a long time. The second paragraph is about how to think. There is a saying worth remembering: "I suggest you never trust the general impression, but focus on the details." The inscription is "Your obedient servant." Then there is a detective: Sherlock Holmes' famous paw "signature". Attach a business card.
There is a template for answering letters. Once a fan received a reply from the person in charge of the memorial hall, which read: "I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes is on a business trip." Maybe I was lucky enough to get the template of "personal letter". As for the gift, there must be a business card, and it is said that there are already exquisite commemorative labels. Interested students can write more letters to see how many templates and gifts there are.
I've written so much that I'm afraid you're tired of reading it. Practice quickly! Good luck!